Core Insights - WTW has launched Rewards AI, a Generative AI-enabled software aimed at transforming HR and compensation professionals' access to rewards data, enhancing decision-making clarity and efficiency [1][3] Group 1: Product Features - Rewards AI combines WTW's data integrity with advanced AI technology, offering a "human-led, machine-powered" approach to simplify workflows and accelerate insight discovery [2][3] - The software features a conversational interface that allows users to ask questions in natural language, providing instant and tailored responses to complex rewards data [3] - Transparency is a key feature, with all recommendations traceable to their sources, fostering trust and eliminating guesswork in compensation planning [4] Group 2: Market Relevance - The ability to quickly understand and respond to compensation trends is crucial in today's dynamic market, and Rewards AI provides a transparent and intuitive method for exploring rewards data [5] - The solution empowers organizations to make informed, strategic decisions based on reliable information, moving beyond surface-level insights [5]

Core Insights - US salary budgets for 2026 are projected to remain stable at 3.4%, consistent with the actual increase for 2025, due to regulated inflation expectations allowing for proactive planning [1][3] Salary Budget Trends - Nearly two-thirds of employers (62%) have not altered their projected pay budgets since mid-2025, while 6% are increasing budgets and 21% are decreasing them [3] - Factors influencing budget changes include cost management concerns (36%), anticipated recession or weak financial results (36%), tight labor market (32%), and inflationary pressures (25%) [3] Strategic Compensation Approaches - The traditional method of distributing budgets evenly among employees is shifting towards a more strategic allocation, rewarding those who enhance skills and contribute to financial outcomes [4] - Organizations are focusing on aligning rewards with outcomes, indicating a trend that is expected to continue beyond 2026 [4] Workforce Planning and Governance - There is a notable improvement in governance around pay decisions, with organizations utilizing market data and segmentation more effectively, while also focusing on affordability and internal equity [5] - One-quarter (24%) of organizations report challenges in attracting or retaining employees [5] Employee Retention Strategies - Staff voluntary turnover rates have decreased to 10.1%, with companies prioritizing budget allocation towards retaining critical talent and addressing pay compression [6] - Actions taken for staff retention include enhancing employee experience (50%), increasing training opportunities (43%), modifying health and wellness benefits (42%), providing greater workplace flexibility (35%), and adjusting compensation programs (32%) [6] Labor Market Dynamics - The labor market is experiencing a balance where demand for labor is lower than in previous years, while labor supply shortages persist, leading to expected stability in salary increase budgets [7] Survey Details - The Salary Budget Planning Report was compiled by WTW's Rewards Data Intelligence practice, with approximately 36,960 responses from companies across 156 countries, including 1,876 from the US [8]

Core Insights - Glidelogic Corp. has launched its Policy Intelligence Suite, enhancing its capabilities as an AI-driven advisory and consulting firm that integrates policy foresight, macroeconomic modeling, and compliance intelligence [1][4][10] - The launch coincides with the CCP Fourth Plenary Session, where strategies for China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) are being developed, allowing organizations to convert complex policy signals into actionable insights [2][5] Company Overview - Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Glidelogic Corp. focuses on the intersection of capital, technology, and compliance, providing clients with tools to transition from information to actionable insights [10][11] - The Policy Intelligence Suite is built on the ResearchMind AI infrastructure, expanding advisory capabilities to include macro-policy forecasting and scenario simulation [3][4] Product Features - The Policy Intelligence Suite aids clients in navigating the complexities of policy, capital, and technology, transforming data into actionable intelligence for strategic decision-making [4][6] - It supports four core advisory domains: national and regional planning trends, corporate and investment decision support, cross-border strategy and compliance intelligence, and governance and transparency [7] Strategic Themes of the 15th Five-Year Plan - The internal study titled "Forecasting China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030)" identifies eight strategic themes that will shape China's policy framework through 2030, including innovation-driven growth, regulatory harmonization, and green transition [6][8][16] - The report predicts GDP growth of 4.0–4.5%, R&D intensity around 3%, and non-fossil energy to reach approximately 25% by 2030, emphasizing the balance of innovation, security, and sustainability [16]